Metallic member for joining wooden elements in demountable interlocking relation



Feb. 25, 1947. w, A

METALLIC MEMBER FOR IN DEMOUNTABLE Filed cKlUs 2,416,371

ELEMENTS ATION Feb. 25, 1947.

W. A. BO IC MEMBER FOR JOI NING WOODEN REL - METALL DEMOUNTABLE INTERLOCKING Y Filed NOV. 3, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE* METALLIC MEMBER FOR JOINING WOODEN ELEMENTS IN DEMOUNTABLE INTER- LOCKING RELATION Walter Allan Bockius, Glenview, Ill.

Application November 3, 1944, Serial No. 561,814

3 Claims.

This invention relates to joints, and in particular to improved means for joining wooden members.

, The preferred embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is particularly designed for joining wooden structural members in furniture making and cabinet work, although it is obvious that the invention may be applied to timberjoining and heavier types of construction.

It is an object of my invention to provide a joint of simple construction, but which is comparatively strong, and also ajoint which is demountable.

A further object is to provide a metal interlocking member which may be secured to a wooden structural member, or the like, and which is adapted to receive in interlocking relationship, the ends'of additional wooden structural members in' order to make anl easily assembled joint. Other objects, features and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

With' reference now to the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a joint formed according to this invention; y

Fig. 2 is .a top sectional view of the joint shown in Fig. 1 the view being taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the interlocking member, taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the joint shown in Fig. 1, the elevation being partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the interlocking member;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of interlocking member;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the interlocking member shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 shows shelving embodying my invention.

With reference now to Fig. 1, an upright structural member I is shown, to which are secured longitudinal horizontal members Il and I2, and a transverse horizontal member I3. 'I'he joint between these members is effected by means of an interlocking member designated generally by the reference I4. The interlocking member is preferably formed from sheet steel and comprises a box-like structure having two partitions I and I6 therein which divide the interlocking member into three compartments designated by the reference numerals I'I, I8 and I9.

The side walls 20 and 2l, and the bottom 22 of the interlocking member are folded from a sheet of metal, and are provided with slots 23 into which lugs 24 of the partitions I5 and I6 extend. These lugs are bent over and serve to 2 reeniorce the walls of the interlocking member. The partitions l5 and I6 are also provided with downwardly extending lugs 2'5 which are received in suitable slots in the bottom member and are bent over.

It will be seen from Fig. 5 that the compartments Il, I8 and I9 are all open at the top, and also at a side. The side openings are formed by inwardly extending flanges designated by the reference numerals 26, 21 and 28, respectively, for each of the three compartments.

The end portions of the horizontal membersv I I, I2 and I3 are provided with grooves, as indicated by the reference numeral 29 with respect to member II. The end portions of the various hor-V izontal members t intoV the several compartments Il, I8 and I9, the ilanges 26, 21 and 28 being received in suitable grooves in the horizontal members so as to interlock the parts. l

The interlocking member I4 is securedto the upright member I0 by means of screws 30, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. v

A :lip 22, to be received in a horizontal slot in the upright I0, is also provided to'make the assembly more secure against wearing.

It will be seen that the type of joint herein described is very secure for the reason that each of the horizontal members is securely interlocked with respect to the others, and with respect to the upright member l0.

A modied form of this invention is shown in v Figs. 6 and 7, wherein one of the end compartments, designated by the reference numeral I9 is provided with an opening in the side wall 20, rather than with an end opening of the type shown in Fig. 5. Another difference is that the end compartment I9 is not provided With a bottom, the purpose of this construction being to receive a board 3|, or a piece of plywood which is adapted to forma closure or a wall for the structure which is formed by the structural members I0, II, I2 and I3, or their counterparts.

As an example of one use for a joint of this type, it can be stated that inthe construction of shelving as shown in Fig. 8, the interlocking members I4 would be secured to a number of uprights I0, and the shelves 33 would be supported both longitudinally and transversely by members corresponding to the horizontal members Il, I2 and I3. At either end of the shelving, an interlocking member I4', such as that shown in Figs. 6 and 7, would be used, for the reason that this would hold in place an end wall formed by a board 3|.

It is obvious, however, that the joint herein shown and described is capable of numerous other mem* drawings are deemed to be illustrativeonly, andv to `beilimited only :by `the appended my inventionis claims.

I claim: l. In a joint for wooden structural members, anA

interlocking device comprising` a-U-shaped member providing side walls and abottom Awallganda plurality of interior partitions for dividing the interior `of said box-like Structure into separate compartments and a slot in an outerv wallofeaclil of said compartments, the slot inone of saidy com-f Y partments extending through the bottom walLw and being bounded on one side by a portionl'off one of said side walls which is bent forwardly to providean end walllsubstantiallyequal inllength to'I the widthV ofv saidi compartment; and being" bounded on thelother sidebyia portion ofthe oppositeA side wall which is A bent backwardly.

2. An interlocking member for providing a structural connection between an upright member and aV pluralityof horizontally disposed members, comprising a sheet steel member bent into av U- shapentoprovide a.' bottom an'dlside walls, aperturesYV provided! in -said`- sidev walls, verticallyV disposed partitionsiinrsaidkU-shaped member and provided with lugsV which extend through said apertures and interlock-therewith, Said vertically disposedpartitions dividing saidU-shaped member" into three compartments 4onev of said side Walls being cutaway toprovidean opening for the middle'compartment'whi'ch isnarrower than the? length dimensioniY ofsaid compartment, and the ends of said sidewallsbeing bent` inwardly to provide` openings intoL the'V eridcompartments which are narrower than thewidthdimension of l vsaid compartments, whereby slotted'horizontally Y disposedmembers maybe positioned with their endsin each of'said-threecompartments, the rportions of the side walls of( said U-shape'dmember which bound said" openingsfextending into the slots said llio'ri'zontall-yfdisposedmembers:

. 4 3. A11 interlocking member for providing" a. structural connection between an upright member and a plurality of horizontally disposed members, comprising a sheet steel member bent into a U-shape to provide a bottom and side walls, apertures provided in said side walls, vertically disposed partitions in said U-shaped member and provided with lugs whicli-fextend through said apertures andinterlock therewith, said'vertically disposed partitions dividing said U-shaped mern`4 ber into three compartments, one of said side Walls being` cut away to provide an opening for the mida dle= compartment` which is narrower than the' lengthidimension' of said compartment, andfthe ends of saidside walls being bent inwardly toprovide` openings into the end compartments .which arenarrower than the Width dimension of said compartments, whereby slotted horizontally ldisposedlmembers may be positioned with their ends in each of said three compartments, the portions of the side wallsof. said Ushapedlmember'which bound said openings extending'y into thefslotsl in said horizontally disposed members, andtheside" wall of said' U -shapedimemberwhich is opposite to that side' wall having," an opening provided therein, beingr providedwth a transversely digs# posed lip `which is'adaptedto t into acorrespoiidl ingly. disposed slotA-irirs'a'id upright member.

WALTERv ALLAN BOCKIUS.'

REFERENCES# CITED The following referenoes'areof record in the file of this patent:

`UNITED STATES PATENTS 

